Rescued puppy used as bait in dog fights recovers in Somerset County

SOMERSET COUNTY — The pit bull terrier pup has a daily routine that includes cuddling and scampering, but no doggie treats or roughhousing.

Still, it’s a good life for Kelly, a puppy recovering from injuries she is suspected of sustaining as a "bait dog" in organized, illegal dog fights, said Kelly Vanasse, who is caring for the animal.

"She can be so trusting, considering she suffered so much at the hands of cruel human beings," said Vanasse, who asked that her Somerset County address not be disclosed.

Rescued puppy used in dog fights gets love and care from Somerset County familyIn her short life, Kelly has seen the best and the worst of humanity. The pit bull terrier puppy, who is believed to be between six and nine months old, was found badly injured and starving, wandering the streets in Philadelphia. When the puppy was taken in by the New Jersey chapter of the animal rescue organization Animal Alliance, it was determined she had been used as a "bait dog," a small dog used to draw out the aggression in fighting dogs. Whether she was abandoned or she escaped, Kelly made it into the hands of a loving foster family in Somerset County. Despite the abuse she suffered, she is friendly and affectionate, making Animal Alliance hopeful that she will find a permanent home when she is ready for adoption in about five weeks. (Video by Nyier Abdou/The Star-Ledger)

Late last month, the black-and-white dog, believed to be between 6 and 9 months old, was found wandering around Philadelphia with bones showing under her skin and her jawbone piercing through her lower mouth.

A veterinarian with Crown Veterinary Specialists in Lebanon said Kelly was likely a bait dog, according to animal-rescue officials said, based on the puppy’s condition and wounds.

Animal Alliance of New Jersey, a nonprofit rescue organization in Hunterdon County, took Kelly in and left her in the care of Vanasse. The puppy will be available for adoption next month.

Anne Trinkle, executive director of Animal Alliance, said Kelly was an unusual case because she’s so young.

Trinkle said bait animals are used in dog fights to rile up the competing animals. Bait dogs are small and submissive, and are usually killed in the ring or abandoned.

Matt Stanton, a spokesman for the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said dog fighting is a problem in New Jersey, even in suburban areas. According to Stanton, between 150 and 250 dog fights occur each month throughout the state.

Animal Alliance has rescued 10 bait dogs since 2002, Trinkle said.

"You can find them (dog fights) wherever you find drugs and crime," she said. "They almost go hand-in-hand."

Vanasse said Kelly, still in pain from her injuries, greeted her new caretakers by wagging her tail and kissing Vanasse’s 8-year-old daughter, Nicole, on the cheek.

"She was very sweet and very nice," Nicole said. "I was expecting a scary dog."